Wrappin' up the Rox-vs.-Rangers

SURPRISE, Ariz. — Pencil the Rockies in as being thankful that the Rangers are in the American League West, not the National League version.

“It looks to me like they have a chance to be a pretty darn good team,” Rockies manager Jim Tracy said after Monday’s 7-6 Cactus League loss to Texas. “I don’t know how many runs you need to beat them on a given day, but it looks like more than two or three are going to be necessary to beat that squad. They can flat hit.”

Wrapping up the game …

ROCKIES WRAP

Rangers 7, Rockies 6

Surprise Stadium

Hits: The Rockies, once again showing their aggressiveness on the bases, scored in the seventh on a suicide-squeeze bunt by Jonathan Herrera. … Ian Stewart hit a no-doubter two-run homer, his first of the spring, off Rangers starter Matt Harrison. … Carlos Gonzalez doubled and singled in his first two at-bats, both times to center field. … Franklin Morales showed he’s regular-season ready, pitching a spotless inning.

Misses: Chris Nelson struck out to end the game on a 101-mph heater from Rangers setup man Neftali Perez, who was consistently clocked in the high 90s-low 100s. … Rafael Betancourt, in his second Cactus League outing, struggled with location. He served up doubles to Michael Young and Nelson Cruz that barely missed being home runs. … The Rockies had no idea how to deal with Cruz, who finished with two doubles and a towering home run to center off Jason Hammel.